“Arkansas has a high rate of poverty, and many residents cannot afford to pay their utility bills or to conserve energy in order to lower their bills. Federal funds only allow the State to assist one-third of the population that is income eligible for relief. Unlike most states, Arkansas does not supplement those federal funds. Until recently, the only source of funds to assist the poor was private donations – either through churches or utility companies’ Good Neighbor Funds. In order to address the problem, the Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association (ACAAA) convened a public forum to educate and engage the public. The forum was followed by a stakeholder process to develop action steps.”
This case can be found on pp. 2-3.
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